National Youth Gang Survey Analysis

Demographics

Age of Gang Members

Respondents provided information regarding the estimated ages of gang members in their jurisdictions.

In virtually every survey year, law enforcement agencies report a greater percentage of adult (18 and over) gang members compared with juvenile (under 18) gang members.

The most recent figures provided by law enforcement indicate that more than three out of every five gang members are adults.

Age of Gang Members, 1996–2011

Juvenile (Under 18)

Adult (18 and Over)

1996

50.0

50.0

1998

40.1

59.9

1999

37.3

62.7

2001

33.2

66.8

2002

38.0

61.9

2004

41.1

58.9

2005

38.9

61.1

2006

36.5

63.5

2008

41.4

58.6

2011

35.0

65.0

Analysis for this section pertains only to law enforcement agencies reporting gang problems. Please see the Prevalence of Gang Problems section.

Age of Gang Members by Area Type

The age of gang members is compared across area types in 2011.

Larger cities and suburban counties, which typically have long-standing gang problems, are more likely to report more adult gang members than juvenile gang members.

Conversely, smaller cities and rural counties, whose gang problems are relatively more recent, are more likely to report equal proportions of juvenile and adult gang members.

Age of Gang Members by Area Type, 2011

Juvenile (Under 18)

Adult (18 and Over)

Larger Cities

32.6

67.4

Suburban Counties

36.7

63.3

Smaller Cities

48.0

52.0

Rural Counties

58.9

41.1

Analysis for this section pertains only to law enforcement agencies reporting gang problems. Please see the Prevalence of Gang Problems section.

Gender of Gang Members

Respondents provided information regarding the gender of gang members in their jurisdictions.

Law enforcement agencies overwhelmingly report a greater percentage of male gang members versus female gang
members—a typical finding from law enforcement data, but one that is challenged by other research methodologies.

Despite a growing concern of females joining gangs, little to no change in the percentage is observed across survey years.

Gender of Gang Members, 1998–2010

Female

Male

1998

7.7

92.3

2000

6.4

93.6

2002

7.3

92.8

2004

6.1

93.9

2007

6.6

93.4

2010

7.4

92.6

Analysis for this section pertains only to law enforcement agencies reporting gang problems. Please see the Prevalence of Gang Problems section.

Gangs With Female Members

Respondents provided information regarding gangs with female members in their jurisdictions.

A large percentage of agencies (nearly one-quarter) could not provide information regarding the prevalence of female membership within gangs,
suggesting that this issue is of secondary or lesser significance for law enforcement.

Of those agencies that could provide information, proportionally few (less than 15 percent) reported that none of the gangs in their jurisdictions have female members.

Nearly half of the gangs outside of the larger cities are reported to have female gang members, compared with approximately one in four in the larger cities.
Of course, these results must be interpreted cautiously because of the sizeable amount of missing data.

Percent of Gangs With Female Members, 2009

Percent

Larger Cities

22.8%

Suburban Counties

45.3%

Smaller Cities

43.0%

Rural Counties

49.5%

Analysis for this section pertains only to law enforcement agencies reporting gang problems. Please see the Prevalence of Gang Problems section.

Race/Ethnicity of Gang Members

Respondents provided information regarding the race/ethnicity of gang members in their jurisdictions.

Law enforcement agencies report a greater percentage of Hispanic/Latino and African-American/black gang members compared with other race/ethnicities.